Typewriting machine



Aug. 24, 1937.

B. c. sTlcKm-:Y`

TYPEWRITING MACHINE 8 vSheets-Sheet l original. Filed Jan.' 18, 1954 Aug- 24, 1931 B. C. sTlcKNEY 2,091,111

V TYPEWRITINQ MACHINE origin-a1 Filed Jan. la, 1934 s sheets-sheet 2 Fig.

W W W /l/ mue/11W:

Aug. 24, 1937 B. c. sTlcKNEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed J'an. I8, 1954 Aug. 24, 1937. B, c. sncKNEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE l 8 sheets-sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1934 N. m T m E L E T. w m

Aug- 24, 1937. B. c. sTlcKNEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1934 ug.l24, 1937. B. C. sTlcKNEY 2,091,111

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 18, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 T NY Allg- 24, 1937 B. c; sTlKNEY 2,091,111

TYPEWRITING MACHINE originar Filed Jan. 18, 1954 8 sheets-sheet 8 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENI" OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application Janyary 1s, 1934, serial No. 707,055

Renewed February 19, 1936 i 3s claims; (ci. 19t-zz) This invention relates mainly to the .reor

.ganization of a typewriting machine.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to manufacture a. standard Underwood or other type- 5 writing machine, by providing a single heavy framework ofcast iron, and using' the same as a general mount for the numerous trains and moving parts. They were usually mounted directly upon said cast-iron framework, which l0 generally included a base, four corner-posts, and top plates or members seated upon the posts and having guide-tracks for the paper-carriage.

In the usual manufacture .pf such machines, there occurs the drawback that a very heavy stock of cast-iron frameworks of many varieties has to be stored in the factory, including some with tracks of ordinary length for ordinary carriages, some with tracks of greater length for longer carriagearand some with tracks of extreme length for the longest carriages. i

Standard typewritingmachines are manufac- ,tured in such great variety that it ,became necessary either tomanufacture and carry constantly in stock many complete machines of every va- 'riety, or else to carry in stock merely the castiron frames, and some other parts, and to proceed to construct the machines, one by one, as orders came in, thus incurring delay in delivery to the customer, and of course postponing the date at which the -customer could be charged for the machine.

' In thegeneral run of machines, there are differences in the sizes and styles of types, differ-` ences in the number of keys on the keyboard, differences in the characters of the keys for different languages, d-ifferences iii the extent of stepping movement of the paper-carriage, involving corresponding-differences inthe margin gage mechanism and in the tabulating mecha- 40 iiism, differences in the length of carriage-driving spring, etc. f

In the Underwood machine, the platen is shifted up and down for typing capital letters, butl the type-bars and keys are mounted upon the nonshifting heavy breakable general framework.

According to the present invention, there is disclosed a general reorganization inthe support and assembling of the many trains, for the purpose of overcoming the above-mentioned difficulties, and gaining further advantages. In

v `reorganizing the machine, the general cast-iron framework is discarded, with its permanentlyv mounted type-bar,and key-mechanism, ribbonmechanism, and other mechanisms, and there is substituted a system of separable units, each any desired keyboard, any desired length of carriage, any desired pitch of letter-spacing movement of the carriage, and so on, might order in the morning, and receive the completed machine in the afternoon; whereas, heretofore, weeks 15 might-elapse between the receipt of the order by the 'dealer and the delivery of the machine to the customer.

The dealer, according to the present invention,

could carry a moderate stock of bases.' These 20` bases, for lightness, stiffness, cheapness and' safety vfrom injury, could be struck up from sheet-steel. Great economy is attainable thereby, inasmuch aseach base is `universally interchangeable, that is, it can be used for filling 25 any order for any .kind of machine, and by itself forms a complete unit. Y

'I'he dealermay also carry a supply of all th popular varieties of type-action units. Each typeaction unit, according to" the present invention, 30 has its oyn frame or skeleton, and is a completend separate article of manufacture. Any one `of fscores of varieties of type-action umts `may be inserted in the universal base, and fastened by a few screws. Thus, the assembling 36 of the machine may commence by placing ln the universal base a. `typeactionv unit having say', italic types, with a pitch of say nine spaces lto the inch, and 'a keyboard of say forty-four keys.

Or the type'chosen by the customer may be 40 elite pica", or other style, or' typesmay be selected for writing a foreign language.' All that the rdealer needs to do, is to pick out the type-.acztionA unit from his stock, and, fasten it inthebasax 1- f o The type-actionl is complete, with type-bars and segment, and provides for shifting the same' bodily up and down; -this unit including the shiftkey mechanism. This involves'a departure from prior Underwood machines, in winch the platen 50 was shiftable up and down .on the carriage by means of a key-mechanism which was mounted -in the non-shifting base of the main framework.

By the present.'invention, -in providing for the types and segment to shift up and down uponthe type-action unit, it is made feasible to place the entire shift mechanism also upon the typew may constitute the principal portion of the mech-l anism of the typewriter. It may be inexpensively produced, inasmuch as it includes a sheet-metal skeleton, upon which all its parts are mounted, all parts of this unit being readily accessible for cheapness of manufacture, and precision being gained for the mounting and striking of the types, so that the unit, although being devoid of a platen, maystill be interchangeably mounted, that is, it may combine with any kind of platen and carriage, and the types may be pre-aligned and pretested, so that the typing will be found to be even.' precise and exact, and to necessitate no aligning operation after assembling.

Then the dealer may assemble upon the typeunit a ribbon winding and reversing unit, which itself is a. separate article of manufacture, and

is adapted to work with any variety of type-action unit;.so he needs to carry in stock only a moderate supply of ribbon-winding units.

'Ihe dealer then selects a carriage of the length chosen by the customer; the carriage of course being a separate complete unit. He further selects a carriage-track unit of the lengthA required for the selected carriage.

The carriage-track unit constitutes the upperl portion of the completed .typewriter-framework. It is fastened down upon four short corner-posts that rise from the base, which is termedfuniversal because carriage-track units, of any` length, can be interchangeably fastened thereon, and any kind of type-action unit can be fastened therein.

The dealer may put a .margin-gage unit in place upon the carriage-track unit. The entire margin-gage and key-locking mechanism constitutes a sub-unit which is a separate article 'of manufacture and is mountable upon any carriagetrack' unit, and together therewith may be applied to or separated from the universal base and its type-action unit.

'The dealer may also fasten in place a carriage-escapement unit, having provision for feeding the carriage the required fraction of an inch at each step.

'I'he dealer may also assemble a back-spacing Other details of the units and assembly thereof will hereinafter appear.

It will be perceived that the stock of manufactures carried inthe 'main factory may be vastly reduced, and that a dealer or branch may be supplied with. a moderate stock of units instead of having only a scarcity of completed machines; and that he may fill orders without waiting for the 75 factory, and that his depleted stock may be promptly replenished, either from a nearby depot or directly from thel main factory.

The entire machine is reduced in weight, while lt exhibits the same impressive massiveness, and is even more attractive than prior machines.

The construction of the machine is very rigid, with its sheet-metal universal base and typeaction skeleton re-enforcing each other, and with the top or carriage-track frame giving further ria-enforcement, and completing a box-like rigid structure, said top frame being of cast iron, and.

contributing to the massive appearance of the machine.

If the owner of a machine finds that occasion arises when he must use Wider sheets, and must therefore have a longer carriage, he does not have to buy a new machine, as heretofore. He can take his machine to the dealer and have his old carriage and' carriage-track removed, and a new one substituted therefor, all within a few minutes, at relatively small expense. Likewise if he desires to change th style of type in his old machine, or

the 'extent of the letter-feeding movement of the carriage, etc. All such changes are readily and cheaply madein machines that still belong to the customers. i

It"\will be further perceived that for servicing and repair of the entire mechanism of the typewriter, the present invention affords improved facilities.

It will be found to require only a few moments to take off four top screws and lift the carriagetrack frame oil from the machine, together with the carriage thereon, without even disconnecting the carriage-driven strap. The mask being also removed, the entire mechanism in the lower portion of the machine, the types, levers, ribbonmechanism, escapement-meclianism, shifting mechanism, etc., are' exposed and rendered ac-` better access to all parts for servicing or repairing,

( or for renewals of worn parts.

The owner of a machine that has been in use for some time may take it to the dealer and have it overhauled, and all worn parts removed and new parts substituted, and the machine returned promptly to the owner with a new mask, a new top, and reconditioned type-actions, thereby giving the owner at once a practically new machine, all at relatively moderate expense.vv

Knowing this, the customer would be inclined to regard the purchase of the original machine more be readily replaced with new parts. The carriagetrack unit may be ,reilnished and a new mask may be installed upon the machine, so that the reconditioned machine may then be offered for .re-sale by said original manufacturer, and will be found to command a high price, especially in consideration of the feasibility of future renewals of worn parts or future prompt and com- .plete reconditioning by the original manufacturer.

Or a. machine taken in trade may be found to be so wornout and in such dilapidated'condition that the best course would be to return it to a branch factory, where it may be taken down, unit from unit, anddealt with as may seem best. Numerous parts, as, for example, the universal base, which never become worn, may be salvaged, and the remainder discarded.

, It will be observedthat the manufacturer can readily maintain control of every machine that is taken in trade. He may control the repair/ or reconditioning of the same by his local' branches, or by taking down the machine entirely in the main factory. In this mannenit will be seen that spurious rebuilding and the offering of cheaply repaired machines to the public at famine prices, under the claim of being rebuilt machines, under the manufacturers own trade-l mark (thereby injuring the reputation and goodwill of the`manufacturer) can be avoided.

It will be perceived that the various units are separable, one from another, and every one by itself forms 'a complete interchangeable article of manufacture and commerce; Usually, owing to separability of the units from one another, eachl unit may be assembled all ready for operation, by merely fastening its supporting member in place upon the machine.

The unsightly units and other interior parts of the base of the machine are encased by a mask which may be `iriexpensively and readily attached and removed, and may present a smooth unbroken surface at the sides, front and rear of theftype-` writer, and may harmonize with the overhead cast carriage-track frame, and present an attractive unitary box-like appearance. v

The mask may be struck up from sheet-metal, and include high side walls and a rear wall, and a member that extends forwardly therefrom fromV the sides to enclose the open keyboard frame portion of the universal base. The mask is permanently secured, and yet is readily removable. The comer-posts of the universal base and also the bosses of the carriage-track frame which are fastened theretoare covered up by the mask,

" of the machine.

. andat the top the upper edges of these portions a. neat joint with which may present a smooth unbroken vertical wall from the extreme rear tothe extreme fro-nt The rear wall of the finished mask may be made separately and attachedto the rear corners of the universal base, forming the rear ends 'of themain mask-portion.

type-action unit, showing At the front the upper' edges of the side walls maybebent inwardly toform vertical front plates;

track frame, so that a flush or unbroken surface is presented where the carriage-track shoulders rise above the mask. y

At the rear the carriage-track shoulders project outwardly through upper cutaway-portions in the side walls of the -mas)k,.and pigesent a harmonious appearance. The carriage-track frame may be removed without disturbing the mask.

-A front vertical plate extends from side to side bf. the mask, just in rear of the keyboard, the

same having,y an arc-shaped upper edge, this frontmask beingush with the side plates'tlrat are turned.' inwardly from the side members of the mask.

The front extended frame of the mask has inwardly turned beads or flanges which may t overthe underlying frontwardly-extending flangeportions ofthe universal base.

Other features 4and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 `Figure 1 is 'a sectional side elevationof an Underwood standard,v .typewriting machine, re-

organized-with the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a sectionalplan of the same, omitting tne/type-bars. p e

"Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the ,ribbon-winding unit. ,The spool-cup andother members shown are duplicated at the opposite sidii of the machine.

Figure 4 is a sectional slide elevation of the type-bars, segment, and type-operating levers in their normal upper positions, for typing lower-case letters. Y

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the carriage-,escapement unit.

Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the uni- I versal base. Figures 4 andl may beread together; as the Figure 4 unit may be. dropped Figure 9 is a perspective view of a carriagetrack unit.

Figure 10 is a perspective elevation of the skeleton or frame of the type-action unit.

Figure 1l is a perspective view of the universal base. Y

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a cross-bar forming a part of the framework of the ribbonwinding unit.

Figure 13 is a side elevation machine reorganized according tothe present invention, the ribbon-spools and some other parts being omitted.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a carriagel track unit, such as seen at Figure 9, having elongated tracks for guiding the long carriage.

Figure 15 is a sectional side elevation of a carriage-'track unit and a carriage thereon.

t Figure 16 is a sectional side elevation of the carriage-tabulating unit, and .illustrating the of the Underwood f separability of the keys from the key-levers of .Y

this unit, for the purpose o f packing and shipvment.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the righthand end of the carriage-track frame, showing l'bell-striking and line-locking mechanism miounted thereon. Q Figure 18 is a sectional side elevation of the back-spacing unit which may bemounted upon the -carriage-escapement unit, the latter beingA .mounted upon a pedestal rising from portion of the universal base.

Figure 19 is a perspective of the universal mask. The keyboard has Jrows df alphabet and numeral type-keys 20, mounted upon stems 2l \of the rear levers 22; the latter being pivoted at their'rear connectedzby forwardly-extending links 26 to short arms 21 of upstanding'sub-levers 28 off the type-driving train. saidsub-'levers 28 rise under the hubs 29 of thel type-bars, about in vertical line with the type-bar pivots 30, andare connected by short rearwardly and upwardly directed links 3| to the type-bars at 32.

It` will be further noted that the key-levers extend forwardly at 33 from their pendent portions 25, and then upwardly at 34 to form elbows with the forwardly-extending key-bearing por- 5 tions 22. The links 25 and sub-levers 28, as well as. brackets 35, to which said sub-levers are pivoted at 36, may be sunken within the transverse trough or space which is bounded by the members 25, 33, 34, thereby complying with the requirement of compactness.

When a key 20 is touched, the lever 22, 33, 34, 25 is depressed about the pivot 23, and the link 25 is pulled rearwardly, thereby vibrating the sub-lever 21, 28, and by means of the short pull link 3| swinging the type to print against the .platen 31.

All the above-described parts (except the platen), are mounted upon a skeleton or unitframe which is seen in perspective at Figure 10.

One of the main portions of said unit-frame is a transverse vertical plate 38, to the rear face of which is detachably secured a key-lever fulcrumrack 39 by means of screws 40. Said rack has parallel vertical guide-slots 4| for the key-lever hubs, and a fulcrum-rod 23, uponwhich the keylevers are detachably mounted in a known manner. 'Ihe key-levers are returned to normal positions by helical push-springs 43, whose tension is adjustable by screws 44, threaded into a bar 45, which is mountedat its ends upon ears 45 bent from the ends of arms 41'which extend rearwardly from the opposite sides 5`| of the unitframe.

At their front ends, the key-levers are guided in a transverse vertically-slotted comb 48, se-

cured by screws 49 to ears 50, bent up from the front of the side members 52 -of the unit-frame.

From the ends of said plate 38 are bent for-- wardly vertical opposite side plates 5| which rise 40 from -a pair of sills in the form of horizontal angle-bars 52 that extend forwardly and rearwardly from the side plates or vposts 5|, and include outturned horizontal front and rear anges 53, 54. By means of these sills the unit-frame 4.5 is detachably secured by screw-holes 52 upon the floor of the main frame which will presently be described,

From the foregoing, it will be seen'that the unit, at Figure 4, is intended to embody all the type-keys, as well as the type-bars and the connections from the keys to the type-bars.

In order to simplify the Underwood carriage and reduce its weight, and to gain' further advan-- ftages, it is also provided that the types on this 55 key-action unit shan be shiftabie up and down, for printing upper and lower case letters. To this end, the type-bars 24 and the segment 55, whereon they are pivoted, are mounted` for bodily 66 up-and-down shifting movement at the operation of a shift-key.

It will be seen that said segment 55 is fastened by screws 56 to an upstanding shift-frame 'that is pivoted at its upper end at 51 to the forward end of idle guide-arms 58, and pivoted at its lower end at 59 upon the forward ends of shiftarms 50. Said arms 80 extend forwardly from a transverse rock-shaft 5|.

The shift-frame is of open design, as seen in the front view in Figure 8, and includes a top u transverse bar 52, to Whichthe upper portion of the type-barsegment is fastened at both ends by the screws 55. `The sheet-metal shift-framealso includesopposite side bars 53, bent down- Wardly and outwardly from 4the ends of the transverse bar 52. At their lower ends these sidebars are tied by a segmental transverse bar 54.

To the front face of bar 54 are fastened individual brackets 35 for the vertical sub-levers 21, 28, which are secured thereto by nuts 55, threadedK 5 upon stems which pass through the wall of transverse bar (54. 1

The open segmental frame 52, 63, 54 swings up and down upon the guide plates or arms 58, 50, together with the typ-bar segment and type- 10 bars, as well as the type-bar-operated levers 21, 28, and their individual brackets 35. During the shifting operation, the forward ends of the links 25 vibrate up and down idly about their rear pivots at 51, without operating the type-bars 24. l5

The system of type-bars is narrower than the .system of key-levers, and this dierence is compensated by fanning out or spreading the lower portions of sub-levers 21, 28, while their upper portions remain connected to the operating links 20 3|, and work substantially in the respective radial planes of their'type-bars. These sub-levers are guided in their own radial' planes by means of the brackets 3s, which are vprovided with guiding surfaces, as seen at Figure 8, between which 25 the sub-levers work. At their lower ends, the sub-levers work in approximately horizontal directions, and approximately within the vertical planes of movement' of their respective key-levers. Thus all side strain and liability of binding and 30 retarded action are avoided.

Opposite ears 58 are provided upon the side bars 53 of the shift-frame, for receiving the upper pivots 51, whilethe bottom ears 59-receive the lower pivots- 59.

The shifting mass is normally held elevated by a spring 10 upon the rock-shaft 5|. Depression of shift-keyll, also. mounted upon this unit, operates levers 12, pivoted at 13; the rear end oi' l the lever rolling against the under edge of an 40 arm 14 that extends back from rock-shaft 5| o'f the shifting mechanism. Thus depression of the shift-key causes the type-bars to drop, and the spring 10 restores them when the key is released. 45

The up-and-down 'movements of the shiftframe may. be gagedby upper and lower adjustable screws 14, 14b,'which are threaded into opposite ears or portions 14c of. a strip 144, which is raised from the sill 54 at each of the oppo- 50 site sides of the unit, and bent to form parallel portions to receive said screws. 'I'he latter co-y operate with the studs 59 to arrest the shifting mass.

In Aorder to operate the letter-feeding mech-` 55 anism of the carriage, the key-levers are provided with bendable arms'15, of different lengths, to press down uniformly a transverse horizontal universal bar 15, which is carried upon this unit Lby means of arms 11 extending back from a s0' transverse'rock-shaft 1li.v An arm -19 upon said rock-shaft 18 Iis connected by a link 80 with an arm 8|' pendent from a pivot-stud 82; the latter carrylnga striker 83 for operating the carriagefeeding mechanism, and also having )a forwardly- 65 extending' arm 84 for operating a ribbon-vibrator 85 up and down in front of the platen at the key-strokes.

In the general organization, this interchangeable type-action unit serves as an important` ele- "0 ment, partly because itincludes all the case-shift and type-operating devices. "The casefshift set usually includes one or more keys at each side of the keyboard,` with appropriate connections for operating, and also releasing connections', not 75 Shown; and it is a feature of the invention that it is rendered practicable to mount the key-shift train upon this unit, by also providing, upon \the unit, mechanism for shifting the type-bar system of the 4unit up and down.

` Shiftingthe type-bars up and down is facili- "tated by the up-and-down vibrating type-bar links 26, which are made to operate the pullarms 21 on the sub-levers 28;` this being rendered practicable by pivoting the links 26 in rear to the non-shifting pendent key-lever arms 25, and having said shifting sub-levers, with their brackets, sunken in a well Aor trough which is bounded by said arms 25 and the members 33 and 34 of l5 the key-levers; while the lower portion of the shift-frame, which carries said sub-levers, is also sunken in said trough. In this way compactness and lightness are secured.

The above-described unit is seen by itself at Figure 4, and is a separate article of manufacture. It may be readily positioned upon the oor of the typewriter after the overlying car-` riage-rail unit has been taken out of the way; and it may readily be secured through screwholes 52a to the floor of themain frame, which is seen at Figure 11, provided with threaded holes 52b for this purpose.

The assembling of the many parts tothe typeaction frame, seen at Figure `10, is a cheapened and simplified operation, owing to the accessibility of all portions of the unit, as well as to its lightness/and ease 'of manipulation; whereby4 substantial reduction may be figured in the cost of manufacture of the typewriter.

The skeleton or unit-frame 38, 52, 53, 54 may be inexpensively stamped out from sheet-metal and bent into form, and aiords lightness and strength. 'I'he cross-bar 48 serves as a tie to connect the front ends of the sills 52`and comvplete the box-like stiff frame.`

The unit maybe thereafter readily removed from the machine, rendering all the parts accessible for inspection, adjustment, cleaning, repairing, and replacement of worn parts.

The tension of the keys may be very readily and delicately regulated by adjusting the screws Il which are exposed and accessible while the unitv is'outside of the machine; and at this time the eect of the tension-regulation may be readily ascertained, so that perfect adjustment may quickly ie eiected.

`This unit may be securely andcheaply packed, owing to its lightness and compactness, and large quantities of units may be dispatched in 55 one shipment with reduced cost for transportation, and with reduced liability to injury;` presenting an advantage over the shipment of an ordinary typewriter, which combines a large and heavy mainframe permanently with a complicated delicate mechanism. e

This unit` also overcomes the drawback that much factory room has to be used for long periods in storing large typewriter-frames, while waiting to have the working parts built into them.

' The bending or adjustment of the universalbar-operating fingers 15 is very easily effected, these parts being readily accessible when the unit is inverted or'set up on edgeand the test- Q ',The guide-plate member ymerges into fthe hooking ofthe universal-bar operation may be made.

, typewriter, he needs a unit having the Greek ,carriage-track frame out of the way; and the screws 88.

unit may be secured. It will be understood that u .the unit must t with accuracy upon the floor of the main frame, and that said rloor must` be accurately nished with respect to the position of the platen, and with respect to the car- 5 nage-feeding dogs, which will presently be described; so that, when a unit is placed inter-l changeably in any typewriter-frame, immediate?, and accurate operation of the machine can be depended upon. y l, I10

The keys and connections may be installerv and the types operated and tested by the aid of a dummy platen, and the manufacture of the unit 'may be entirely completed, so that it may be boxed`Y and shipped without being accompanied by other portions of the machine.

It will be seen that a dealer may be supplied with an assortment of these separate type-action units, so that, by selecting a unit from said assortment, he can supply to a customer any desired machine, having either pica or elite, or gothic, or any other style of type, or types and keys for Hebrew, or Arabic, Greek, or other language.

If, for example, a dealer has a call for a Greek only to take from stock types and. keys, and put it in place in the main frame of the machine, to complete the typewriter, which can be delivered to the customer within a' few hours of purchase.; or, in case the dealerj has no main frame avail` able, he can remove the type-action unit from an English typewriter, and replace it by a. unit having the Greek types and keys; and thus secure prompt delivery.

When a customer sends back a machine` for overhauling, this type-action unit may be readily detached and withdrawn, first moving the unit may be cleaned by a bath, using kerosene, naptha, alcohol, or the like, and then its joints may be oiled; and then, without refinishing, it may be restored to its place in the typewriter.

Or, if a used machine is taken in trade, the

type-action unit may be removed XJand worn parts readily replaced by new ones, and the renovated restored typewriter may 'be exposed -for sale by' the original manufacturer or his-agent, with a new shell or mask. v In some cases, an entire new unit may be substituted for an old unit, and the latter may be returnedto themain factory for -such disposal as may be proper, and for use partially or wholly in either new machines or remanufactured machines. m

Any individual type-bar may be removed, after withdrawing a curved keeper 86,r which ts upon the circular hubs 81 of the type-bars, to retain them upon the fulcrum-wire 30. I'he type-bar is in the form of a hook, and may be lifted of! from the hub-wire, and may` then be detached from the buckle-link 3|, and withdrawn from the machine and replaced by a new type-bar. The keeper is detachably secured by The type-bar is formed with a member in the form of a guide-plate 29, and the body of the bar extendsat about `right angles to said plate, which guides the bar in the radial slot of the segment l55. 70

Without putting the unit "into thel typewriter, it is made sure that the unit and the papercarriage will co-operate, and it is also made sure that the types will type accuratelyppon the platen in any typewriter-frame late wliichlthe -f'like' hub member 81 which hooks upon the ful' crum wire, where'it is retained by Ithe-keeper 86 the contour ofJthe hub member being segmental,

Vor concentric with `the fulcrum pin for about90.

degreesor more. f The hook is formed by an open slot which permits attachment and removal of the type-bar when the keeper is removed. This slot is bordered by a'short arm member which projects from said plate-like member and at its 5v end has the pivot bearing 32 whereby the link 3| is pivoted thereto. 'I'he link is preferably cast off before removal of the type-bar.

If desired, the segment, which forms a subunit, may be detached independently of the key- 10 levers and sub-levers; the links 3| being rst detached from the type-bars. The segment 55 is generally of Underwood formation, having stopring and dust-guard formations, and is detachably held upon the shift-frame 63 by means of (screws 58, and may be removed with its type-bars independently of the frame and of the type-rest V88, which latter is carried by rods 80 that are anchored in the main shift-frame. 63.

If it is merely desired to remove an old typehead 8| from any type-bar 24, the unit may be removed from the typewriter, thereby exposing all the type-heads and type-bars to the operations of the machinist, and the old type may easily be taken off from the bar, and a new one soldered in place thereof.

Ihe segment may carry the usual central typeguide 82, upon which is guided the aforesaid ribbon-vibrator 85. Said vibrator may be operated by an arm 83. 'Ihis arm has an elbow shape, and is pivoted at 84 to ears 85, bent forwardly from the vertical main plate 38 of the unit. The keys cause the arni 84 to rock the ribbon vibrator arm 83 up and down, so as to bring the ribbon up to the printing-point and then drop it. For this purpose, the arm 84 may carry opposite pins 86, which may engage alternate slots 81, 88. yEither slot may be brought into use to connect the arms 84 and 83, byshifting, crosswise of the machine, a yoke 88, in which are formed said slots `8'|, 88.

This yoke, movably attached,to the arm 83, may be shifted by means of a transverse link |00, Figure 7, thereby bringing into use. Each slot is made reversely curved, so as to start the ribbon-vibrator up slowly, and accelerate its upward motion, and finally to reduce the upward motionto effect a gradual stop, thereby avoiding initial ,wrinkling of the ribbon, and also avoiding final overthrow of the ribbon. 50 'I'he right-hand end of the link |00 may be connected to` an arm |0| of a detachably mounted lever |02, such, as seen in Helmond Patent 1,834,522, for bringing into'use different stripes of a bichrome ribbon, and for also siiencing the ribbon for stencil-typing. The right end of said link is detachably pivoted at |03, and it may vibrate up and down idly at the ribbon-vibrating operation.

The detachable link |00 and the lever |02 may be packed separately, and then put in the same package with the type-action unit, to be shipped therewith; and it will be found convenient to attach the part |00 to the yoke 88 on the ribbonvibrator operating 4lever 83 and pivotally coneither slot 81 or 88.

nect the lever |02 to a lug ||I2Il provided therefor obstruction, which encounters the fork, whereby shaft 8 is rocked to reverse the travel of the ribbon, in a known manner. These vertical shafts in the Underwood machine a e usually mounted in a vertical bracket H8; but in the present instance said bracket is modified by being provided with a boss |20, which is secured by screws |2| to a sheet-metal bracket (Figure 12) in the form of a transverse plate |22 that extends under the type-bars 24 from side to side of the machine, and has end risers |23 to which the bosses |20 are secured. 'Ihe body ofthe bracket |22 is detachably secured by screws |24 upon opposite risers |25 which extend up from the sills 52, Figure 10.

It will be observed that this ribbon-winding unit may be manufactured and shipped separately from the type-action unit, inasmuch as the ribbon-mechanism will serve for any kinds of types. so that it is rendered unnecessary to addto the cost of the type-action'unit by permanently building the'ribbon-.winding mechanism thereon.

'I'he ribbon-winding unit may be set in place by passing it rearwardly with the cross-bar |22 under -the type-bars 24, and then it may be set upon the risers 25 and attached by thescrews |24, whereupon the combined type-action and ribbon-unit may be secured in place in the machine.

When the type-action unit is thereafter removed.' the ribbon-unitcomes out with it, and may then be detached from it, for servicing or other disposition as may be required, without disturbing the mechanism of the type-action unit.

It will be remembered that the carriage-rail unit must be taken off from the machine when- -ever the type-action unit, with or Without the ribbon-unit, is to be removedA or replaced; and it will be'seenalso that the ribbon-winding unit can be put in place upon the type-action unit after thelatter has been fastened in the universal base of the machine. In other words, after removing the carriage-track unit, the ribbon-unit may be withdrawn for any purpose, and then replaced or a new one substituted without disturbing the type-action unit.

To render such'use of the-ribbonunit feasible,

it is provided that 'the ribbon-winding ratchetwheel ||5 shall be operated from the type-action,

unit by means of universal bar 1G on the latter; and the operating train from the universal bar to the ratchet-wheel is madedivisible or separable, one part of the train remaining connected to the universal bar, and the other part, of the train being mounted upon the main bracket |22 of the ribbon-winding unit.

Said main bracket is .provided with an ear '|28 in which is pivoted at |21 a lever, one arm |28 of which is `operated by a thrust-rod 128, and theother arm |30 of which is pivoted at |3| to a winding pawl |32, whichjdrives theratchetwheel H5 ai: the type-strokes to rotate the shaft III and `wind the rib said pawl `having are-A turning spring |33, and the lever` having a returning spring |34.

Said rod |29 is pivoted at its lower end at |35 to an arm |361upon the rock-shaft 18 of the universal-bar' structure, and is guided by a pin |31 an'd extends upwardly and forwardly. At its free end the rod thrusts up the ribbon-feeding arm.|28,without, however, being attached to the latter, this being the point of separation between the Winding mechanism upon the ribbonmechanism and the universal-bar mechanism upon the type-action unit.

y There is also provided a spring-detent |38 for The above-detailed units, as well as the carriage and its tracks and the remainder of the typewriting machine, are all supported upon a base |39, seen at Figures 6 and l1, which is interchangeable and universal, that is, it is the same for all machines, whetherthey have long or short carriages, or one kind or another of type-systems, etc.

This universal base, which is open at its top, may be struck up from" one piece of sheet-metal.

26 It has a oor |40, from the sides of which the bent up opposite side walls |4|, |42; the iioor having large transverse cutaways |43, |44-, |45 for lightness. From the rear of the floor may be bent up a rear wall |46, and from the front may 30 be bent up a front wall |41 to confine the keyboard.

These side, front and rear walls form integral flanges, which co-operate with the iioor to make aoboxwork having great stiiness and lightness,

and possessing the further advantage over the usual cast-iron frame in that the soft sheet-steel is not liable to breakage. The stiffness may be increased by riveting the rear wall at |48 to integral iianges |49 turned inwardly from the' rear ends of the side walls. f

Rubber feet |50 may be attached directly to the bottom of this universal baseby means of screws |5|, which may be headed in the known manner and passed up through the rubber feet |50 and the metal caps |52 thereof, and threaded into ears |53, which extend out from opposite sides oi the floor. By @this simple means there is secured a cushioned supportcof ample breadth for the machine.

'I'his universal base is furtherv stiiened bythe skeleton frame 38, 48, 52 of the type-bar unit, which skeleton frame is seen at Figure 10 in perspective, and at Figures 1 and 2 as fastened down to the universal base. lSince eachl frame stiiens the other, each may be of lightened construction, and by this and other means the weight of theentire machine may be kept within bounds, and may even be lowered as compared with machines having the usual cast frame construction, inasmuch as this invention provides for substantial reduction in use of heavy iron castings. t

It 1will be seen that the type-action unit at Figure 4 may be dropped into the universal base 65 at Figure 6' to the position seen at Figure 1, and there secured by serews 52c passing through holes 452, giving an eiect of a. double-wall two-part unit, which, in some cases, may be shipped in this condition from the main factory; although `in -most cases there may be shipped separate units. In the type-action unit at Figure-10 are Aseen holes L52" in the base-flange 54. The screws 52 atfFigures 1 and 2 are inserted through these vholes 52", and fasten the Figure `10 unit to the base?, said .screws 62" beingA threaded into-the A also be fastened to the floor at I 12.

-tabulating train.

four holes 52h provided inthe base, as seen in Figure 11. l t

' 1t is necessary for the dealer or branch oiiice to keep in stock only enough universal bases to supply his customers for immediate use. An assortment needs to be kept only of the typeactions and of the carriage-units, and of some other units/for the same universal base will serve for any type-action or any carriage or other unit. The cost of casting, finishing and storing an immense quantity of complete general typewriterframes with their carriage-tracks, is avoided, and the expense of keeping s uch frames in storage, waiting for orders, is also avoided.

The principal portion of the mechanism whichv is 'seen at Figure 4 is thus mounted and confined within an inexpensive double shell of great stiffness and durability, and is readily made accessible for inspection, cleaning', repairing, replacement and remanufacture, and at low cost.

vIt has been explained that the universal bar 16 forms part of a carriage-feeding train, whichincludes the vibrating arm 83. This arm has a. projection which strikes the usual adjustable stop |54 upon a dog-rocker |55, which includes` the usual detent and feeding dogs |56 and |51, that co-operate with the usual escapement-wheel |58;

the latter having a pinion |59 meshing Awith af releasable rack |60 upon the platen-carriage |6I.

The dog-rocker is mounted upon the usual tr` nnions |62, and has a pendent stop-arm |63 to 0- operate with adjustable forward and backw rd stops |64, |65.

An open frame |66 serves as a mount for the dog-rocker and the escapement-wheel, and is of about the same construction as in the Underwood typewriting machine; but in the present invention it is fastened by screws |61 upon the front rof a pedestal rising from the floor |40 of the universal base, Figure 11, the pedestal having two uprights |68 joined at the top by a cross-piece 69, to which the open Aescapement-frame is held by` the screws' |61. The uprights |68 may have flanges |10 riveted at |1| to the rear wall |46 of the universal base. Said mount |68, |69 may As will be seen at Figure 5, the vescapernentdevices and their frame, form an independently' manufactured interchangeable unit, of which an assortment may be kept in stock -by the dealer;

the pitch of the teeth ofthe escapement-wheel |58 varying inI different units in lche assortment, so

that the dealer may select a unit having teeth of :line pitch for use with a Figure 4 unit having an elite type, 0r^with a coarser pitch for a Figure 4 unit having pica type, and so on.

This unit may be attached to the support |69 either before or after the latter is assembled' in the universal base. This unit controls the carriage, but is separately connected thereto,'so that either the unit, or the carriage, or the carriage-l track unit may be removed bodily from the machine independently ofthe other.

This unit at Figure 5 also carries a carriage.

releasing arm |13, for operation by the tabulating unit, which will presently-be described; saidarm having 'a lift roll |14 for the feed-rack |60, and a projecting part |13EL for contact with the Since the alphabetand numerals require no more than thirty-six keys, it will be seen that the keyboard at Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated with a surplus of keys. This type-action unit-may be always made of maximum size and capable of servingsfor the maximum numberof keys that may be required. Thus the dealer may conven- Aiently keep a stock of type-action units, with a full outfit of keys and type-bars, and may remove from the selected unit its excess of keys and typeactions, if necessary.

The stock of type-action units may vary also as to size of types, and as to variations in the designations on the keys for different languages, or for other uses. 4

The carrying of an assortment of type-action units would obviously be less expensive than to carry an assortment of complete machines, for different kinds of carriage-units may be required for different customers al1 wanting one kind of type-action unit.

The dealer or branch manager may carry a moderate supply of universal bases and masks therefor, to take care of his trade for a given term, and may carry an ample assortment of carriage-track units, and an ample assortment of type-action units, and of escapement-units, and also as many ribbon-winding units as universal bases, and also a suitable assortment of tabulating umts, etc., and thus find himself enabled to supply each customers needs promptly, whatever they may be, and may at the same time forward tothe factory an order for whatever units are required to replenish his supply.

After'the Figure 4 type-action unit has been fastened in place in the universal base at Figure 6, and the ribbon-winding unit at Figure 3 has been fastened upon the Figure4 unit, and the carriage-feeding unit at vFigure 5-has been fas tangular open frame, which includes a front bar |18 land a rear bar |19; these bars being joined at their. ends by side bars |80, |8|.

The front of the frame has spreading horns |82, upon which the front carriage-track |15 .is detachably mounted at its ends. To the rear carriage-track |16 are fixed the usual cleats |83 which are fitted in grooved bosses |84 formed upon the ends of the rear bar |19.

The carriage-track frame has large bottom corner bosses or rests |85, |86, |81, |88, whereby it is seated upon the top of universal base corner .posts or risers |89, |90, the same being moderately high for minimizing liability to injury. 'Ihe joints are concealed by the mask. The tops of the posts are bent inwardly to form ledges |9|, which combine to make a table or seat down upon which the carriage-track frame is fastened by said screws |11,' and the frame may be provided with corner-doweis |92, Figure 1, to fit in holes |93 in the bent-in ledges I9 I, and assure accu- 'rate relationship or interchangeability between Frs the type-bars and the platen 31, which is mounted upon thecarriage, so as to secure evenness and accuracy of the type-impressions upon the *platen 31 of the carriage. -Y

The carriage-track frame co-operates with the reinforced shell-like universal base tomake a structure of extreme stiffness, especially since the universal base is reinforced bynthe` skeleton 38, 48, 52, FigurelO. 'Ir'hus the general typewriter framework is constructed of the three frames seen in Figures y9, 10, and 11. It is inexpensive and sturdy, besides possessing the numerous other advantages herein referred to; and

that the advantage of a sheet-metal framework is gained, of comparative freedom from fracture, this frame being therefore superior to the castiron frame of the usual typewriters, since the. two principal sheet-metal members of the framework are yieldable or springy and, being in the bottom position, where they take most of the shocks, they are able to withstand the shocks without injury, while the cast-iron frame (Figure 9), by being mounted upon the somewhat yieldable support afforded by said under frames,

is less exposed to breakage, .than\is the usual cast-iron framework.

The cast-iron framing imparts an appearance of solidity to the machine, being largely exposed to view above the top of the mask which is presently to be described, Figure 13. Thus the machine, although cheaply made, is given an at. tractive, solid and substantial appearance', to conduce to salability.

The casting ofthe carriage-track element permits formations thereon which it would be expensive or difficult to make in a sheet-metal frame; while the breadth ofthe cast-iron frame is sufficient, although it may be substantially less than the cast-iron ge'neral framework of the usual machine.

The one-piece open-top frame has the further advantage that the seats for the rear track cleats |83 and the seats for the front track |15 may all be milled at one operation, thus insuring accuracy in the position and relationship of the tracks to each other. Underwood machines have no integral f ront and rear cross-bars |18, |19.

This rectangular cast frame is compact and maybe stored in reduced quantities, each frame requiring only a'small fraction of the room that is now demanded for storage of a cast-iron general framework. Moreover, if a track-frame should be broken, it can be cheaply replaced, and not involve the loss of a whole general framework.

The side bars lso, Isl are about ,level with the top inturned edges of the side walls of the mask |94, `Figure 13, and are masked thereby. The front bar |18 is curved under the type-bars, Figu re 1, at its middle portion, to afford access to l the types for observation and cleaning. There meme by the sizes of the types, and also the Irack presently to be described.

is suiiicient clearance under the types to permit the downward caseshift motion of the latter, this` clearance being observable at Figure 1.

The carriage has the usual front rolls |95 to run upon the track |15, and the rear collars .|96 to slide upon the rear track |16. The platenaxle |91 is mounted directly upon the carriage IBI, the usual platen-[shift frame being unnecessary.

The carriage and track unit may include the usual margin gages |98 and |98*1L and theusual margin-gage rods |99, 200 and rack 28|..

The pitch o t Athe margin-gage rack-teeth must correspond with the pitch of the carriage-escapement teeth |58 and rack |60, which are governed tabulator In most machines, the carriage feeds ten spaces to the inch, so that Aby stocking up with a supply of 10-pitch carriage-track unitsthe dealer cansupply most of his customers; and'hel riage` and track units fitted with margin and spacing racks of more or less than ten-pitch. The dealer may carry a stock of carriage-track units having no margin gages or margin-gage racks' or letter-feeding racks; and he mayalso have an assortment of margin gages and letterfeeding racks of different pitches, and apply them to the carriage and track units fromtime to time as required to fill the orders .of different customers for'va'rious kinds of types.

The carriage and trackunit may also include an Underwood carriage-driving spring-barrelv 2 02, which may have a tension-adjusting knob 203, and may be mounted upon a bracket 204; l5 the operation of the mechanism being disclosed in the Helmond-Patent 1,442,880, of January 23, 1923.

The bracket 204 may be attached by screws 205 to the rear bar |19 of the carriage-track 20 frame; being fastened against the front face of the rear bar |19; and a spring strap 206 may detachably connect the spring-barrel to the usual stud 201 on the carriage. This spring-barrel unit may be supplied separately from the carriage-track frame, to be attachedthereto by the ldea-ler, who may carry an assortment of -springbarrels,` some with eXtra-length springs for use with wide carriages.

In order to accommodate work-sheets of great width, long carriages may be employed, to run upon longtracks 208, 208 mounted upon a lengthened unit seen at Figure 14. This unit, although ,Y

lengthened, is formed to t upon the ledges I 9| of the standard or universal base already described;

so that the carrying in stock of the usual widened general framework for widecarriageV machines i's unnecessary. Upon the universal base may be fastened a carriage-track frame of any length; and the needs vof customers may be met by simply 40 carrying in stock a moderate assortment including 'a few lengthened carriage-track frames, Figure 14, withtheir long carriages,` with an appropriate small assortment of extra-length margingage mechanism and carriage-feeding and tabulating racks.

It will be understood that eXtra-long frames, Figure 1 4, may be made both shorter and longer than illustrated. The horns for` carrying the front track may rise from spreading horizontal trunk-portions 2|0, terminating in upstanding tips 2|| to which the track is tted.

The rear bar |19 may have extension trunks 2 I2 carrying at their ends the carriage-bosses |88 for the carriage-track cleats |83. For supporting the middle portion of the lengthened rear carriage-track 209, there may be provided midway spaced cleats 2I 3, similar to the cleats |83, and fastened upon bosses 2|4, similar to |88, and integral with the crarriage-track-frame casting.

The barrel 202 on this unit at Figure 14 may contain an extra-length spring.

It is asimple matter to keep an assortment .of

margin-gage racks and other racks for different lengths of carriages, and for each length to include a small number of racks of unusual pitch, while the` bulk of the stock racks may be of standard ten pitch.

A further advantage -is gained-in substantially placing the usual margin-gage mechanism upon 7 0 the carriage-track frame to form a portion of that unit for boxing and shipment therewith, or for keeping in stock therewith, the same to be brought into its proper place in the finished machine by 'simplyattachingthe carriage-track unit 7 5 to the universal base. The local dealer may carry in the usual way, for limiting thereturn movement of the carriage |6I. The usual front margin-gage rod |99 carries the rack 20| along which runs the margin-gage |98 for ringing the bell and locking the line.

According to the usual Underwood method, -a tongue 2|5 on the carriage strikes'a cam 2|'6 on one of the margin-gages, thereby depressing the rack 20| and swinging forwardly a pendent arm 2H, which performs the same function as in the Underwood construction; but in the present instance the bell andfli'ne-locking train extends rearwardly and compactly inside of the carriage-track frame, along-the inner,side of the bar |8|. L

This arm 2|1 extends rearwardly and has pivoted thereto a trip-arm 220`having a pin2l8.

When the arm\2|1 is depressed, the pin 2 lilstrikesv the bell-hammer 22| to first raise it, and then lever 225 pivoted upona boss-225a of the carriagel track frame, lifting up the interponent 226 thereof into the path of a stop 221, which is formed uponthe top of theV striker 83, Figure 1, and swings rearwardly to strike the escapement-dog rocker to feed the carriage. ponent 226 rises into place, the striker'83 cannot operate, and hence no numeral-key or space-key l can be fully depressed, and hence the line is A locked.

When it is desired to write a few additional letters at the end of the line, a key 228, at'the `rear of the keyboard, is depressed to swing its bell-crank 229, which,v is pivoted at 230 upon a hanger f23| pendent `from the carriage-track frame. To this bell-crank is connected the for- When the interward 'end of the rod 224, whereby the lug 223 g may be pulled forwardly out of the path of ear 232 When the carriage with the tongue 2|5 depresses the cam 2 I6, the ear 232 presses down the` lug 223 and with'it the rod 224 and the lever-arm 225, thereby lifting the interponent 226 into the path of the stop v221 on the feed-dog striking arm 83. Now when the key 228 is depressed, the rod 224 is pulled forwardly and the lug 223 is therefore pulled out of the path of the ear 232,

so that saidarm-2H can no longer control the rod 224. Y

Hence a spring4 233 may lift the lever-arm 225v independentlyof the carriage-operated arm 211,

and the interponent 226 may thereby be dropped out of the path of the striker 221 on the escapement-dog'striker 83, so as not to interfere with the action of the type-striking keys. s

The key 228, the lever 225, the bell-striker, and' some other portions of the margin-gage and key- .I

locking train may be supplied with levery carriage-track unit; and these parts may ble'thesame for carriage-track units of all sizes. The

arm 2|1 may be attached to the margin-gage rack by screws 234, and said arm may be supplied with every carriage-track unit, and the local or branch dealer may attach it to the rack The margin-release key, which is at the righthand side ofthe keyboard, is seen at 228 (Figure 13), substantially in line with the rear bank of type-keys, but at a greater elevation corresponding with the position of the back-spacing key, seen at Figure 1, which is at the left-hand side of the keyboard.

Before removing the carriage-track frame from the universal e the carriage should be run along to a ce tral position, and then the right 15w and left margin-'gages should be run along toward each other until they meet the usual carriage-lugs, so that the carriage cannot move to right or left when the carriage-track frame is lifted olf from the universal base,.and thecar- 2 0 riage-rack 60 therefore lifted 01T from its pinion |59. Thus the carriage will be restrained from running along its tracks in either direction, and liability of injury will be avoided.

It will be observed that the carriage-track unit may be readily raised from the universal base or lowered to position thereupon, since the ,described locking-train is made separable for this purpose; the self-presenting interponent 226 being mounted 'upon the carriage-track frame and rising therewith out of the path of the carriage-dog striker 83, and dropping into place in said pathgm when the carriage-track frame is seated upon the universal base.

Thus, Without assortments of cast-iron general frameworks being stored at the main factory, or losses from breakage thereof, and without the necessity of transmitting an order to the manufacturento take its turn in being filled, the dealer needs only to draw from his own st ock a universal 40 base, and placetherein the type-bar unit of a 4kind required by his customer, together with the ribbon-unit, and the carriage-feeding unit, and then place uponthe universal base a carriagetrack unit of the length required for the carriage needed by the customer, thus being able to fill the order within only a few hours. He is not only enabled'readily to secure the order of the customer, butfis also able to collect cash payment, on the same day that the order is given/ or at least to have the'running of the account start with that day, instead of perhaps some weeks or monthslater.

Upon the carriage-track unit (Figure 15) mayI be mounted stationary wing-scales 235 for the platen 31. A support in the form of a cross-bar 236 is detachably fastened upon the opposite bars |80, |8 of the cast frame of this unit, by screws 231. 'I'he wing-scales 235 may be supported upon the cross-bar by means of the usual springs 238. The scales do not need to shift up and down at the case-shift operation.

'Ihe wing-scales 235 must have the same pitch as the margin-gage racks 200, 20| and the carriage-feeding rack |60, and therefore these elements need not be assembled upon the carriagetrack frame to be carried in stock therewith, but

a selection may be made from an assortment of different pitchespf gages, scales and racks, to be mounted .upon a carriage-track-frame unit of appropriate length for the needs of a customer.

The selected pitch, of thesev elements would correspond with the size 'of the type in the selected type-action unit. Thus, a large variety of machines can be selectively made up from a relatively small stock of parts.

of May 2, 1922, andis there shown mounted in the base-portion of the usual cast-iron framing; burl in the present instance, Figures 1, 2,v and 18, it is mounted to form part of the detachable carriage-escapement unit. Said back-spacing device includes a bracket consisting of a cross-bar 239 and arms 240 extending rearwardly and having a rock-shaft 24| mounted therein. Said bracket is detachably retained by screws 242 upon crossbar 243 which forms the lower part of the bracket or casting of the carriage-escapement unit.

'At the left-hand end of said rock-shaft 24| -is a screw 244, which fastens the hub of a forwardly-extending lever 245, bearing a back-space key 246. The key is in line with the rear bank of type-keys at Figure 1.

The other end of said rock-shaft 24| is bent to form an arm 241, from which extends upwardly a link 248, which at it`s upper end is detachably pivoted by a screw 249 to a moving member 250'of the-back-spacing mechanism, set forth in said Helmond Patent 1,414,738. Said mechanism is illustrated at Figure 18 and needs no further description. It co-operates with the usual carriage-escapement rack |60.

It will be understood that there are several trains each of which is divided into separable parts, which separate when the carriage-track frame is lifted from the universal base. Mention has already been made of the divisibility of the rack |60 of the escapement-train from the pinion 60 separates (see Figure 18) from the backspacing mechanism, or may lift up clear thereof, whereby either assembling or disassembling of the carriage-track frame is facilitated.

The carriage-escapement and back-spacing device may be regarded as a single unit, which may be assembled and secured bythe screws |61 upon the pedestal |68, before the type-action unit is inserted in place in the universal base.

. The back-space key-lever 245, 246 will not obstruct either the withdrawal or assemblage of the type-action unit.

'Ihe back-spacing mechanism may be regarded as a sub-unit, which may be fastened upon the carriage-escapement unit for shipment, or it may be shipped separately therefrom Vand attached thereto by the dealer. It is also apparent that the back-spacing sub-unit may itself be knocked down by detaching the screws 249 and 242.be fore shipment. i

The tabulator-unit (Figures 1, 2, and 16) is upon the outside, and attached to the rear wall |46 of the universal base. This' unit includes decimal-tabulator keys 25|, having stems 252 for depressing the forward arms 253 of levers that are mounted upon a fixed transv rse rod 25,4, and have lift arms 255 extending rea ardly to a set of vertical decimal-stop bladefs 256. The decimal-stop blades and levers are shown mounted upon a vertical bracket 251 struck up from sheet-metal and held by screws 258 upon the rear face of the wall |46. Decimal-stop fittings of different pitches may be employed upon different typewriters, without the necessity of carrying inY stock a universal base for every pitch.

The sides 259 of the bracket are bent forwardly from the rear wall 251 thereof, and the opposite attaching ears 260 are bent outwardly from the sides 259.v A guide 26| is provided for the lower ends of the sliding stop-blades 256, and the' usual l'line-locking train, and of the separation of the stop-blade guide 262 surmounts the bracket. The levers 253, 255 are not attached to the blades 258,

and are readily' removable from the unit after 7 unscrewing the fulcrum-rod 254 from the arm 263 of the bracket. The unit may be packed and shipped in knocked-down condition, since the detachable key-stems 252 have at their lower ends vertical slots 264 to fit upon shouldered operating pins 265 provided upon the levers The various units are not only interchangeable,

but it is contrived for one or more members of stems 252 are guided in a two-part transverse' slotted bar, detachably held by screws 266 upon ears 261 that are punched in from the side walls |4|', |42 of the universal base, Figure 11. The lower member 268 of the cross-bar isa support, While the upper member 269 is slotted to form a guide-comb for the stems 252, and is held on the cross-bar 268 by means of screws 210.

The stops 21| upon the tabulator-key stems come to rest against plate 259, under the operation of individual return springs 212.

The stems 252 may be individually detached from the unit, and the levers 253, 255 may also be detached, for compactness of packing and shipment; but the unit may be readily assembled after the type-action unit has been fastened into the universal base; and the ribbon-unit may be put in place either before or Aafter the keys 252 are passed down between the type-key levers 22 and seated upon their operating pins 265. The row of keys 25| is just in rear of the typewriter-keyboard, and forward of the transverse bar |18 of the carriage-track unit; while the tabulatorlevers 253, 255 are strung beneath the universal base.

The tabulator-blades 256 operate a short universal bar 213, which formspart of a train for releasing the carriage |8|A for tabulating operation. The train includesrock-shaft 214, journaled in the 'side walls 259 of the bracket and having an arm 215 which operates 'a thrust-'link 216,` the latter bearing against ear |13a upon the lower end of the arm |13, which lifts the feed-rack |60 from the escapement-Wheel pinion It will be observed that separability is provided between the link 216 and the arm |13, thus favoring ready attachment of the tabulating unit andassuring that when the latter is attached and fastened in place, the link will properly present itself tothe arm |13 without. necessity of tting parts.

The link may be provided with "a longitudinal slot 211, whereby it is guided upon a fixed pin 218 fastened upon the tabulator bracket. Upon the carriage is usually mounted a rack 219, upon which are mounted adjustable column stops 280,

arranged in thefpath of the decimal stops when the latter are elevated.

It 7has heretofore been found difficult to thread an ink ribbon into the machine, in the cramped space in front ofthe platen. It is contrived by the'present invention tcyprovide more room for the operators fingers 'at the ribbon spoolsand ribbon guides. Accordingly, the ribbon spools I4 with their circular boxes 28| and shafts |I3 are set back about one-half 'an inch from positions heretofore occupied in Underwood machines. This brings the spools to a position rearward of the front bar 282 of the carriage, and leaves ample opportunity for the fingers to move in front of the platen for manipulating the spool and ribbon.

The relative position of the platen to the typebars is unchanged. The position of the platen has been rearranged by swinging it to the rear y around Athe pivotal point 30 of the lowermost type-bar. The type-bars together with the segment have been likewise rearranged, as if made in one piece with the platen, and swing about the same point 36. The segment therefore is'rearranged in a rearwardly-inclined position, and the types therefore strike the platen on a level which is a little above the platen' axis; this making an improvement by rendering the printing line more elevated and therefore more visible.

For adjusting either end of the platen minutely, either forwardly or backwardly, there is provided upon the carriage-frame a lever 284, to

which the platen-axle |91 is pivoted.y Said lever is fulcrumed at 285 upon the carriage |5I; and is controllable by means of a slide 286, which maybe adjusted forward or Abackward by movingit up or down.. The slide has a slot 281 that is inclined a little from the vertical, so that up-anddown adjustments of the slide Will'cause minute vibrations of the lever and platen..

The adjustment is secured by fastening a screw 288, which also co-operatcs'lwith a fixed pin 289 to guide the slide up and down. A sirr'iil'ar equipment maybel provided at veach end of the carriage, so that either end of the platen may be swung forwardly or backwardly a trifle, to secure evenness of type-impressions throughout the lineof typing.

The machine may be finished by enclosing it in a mask made of thin sheet-metal. All said units may ybe encased by the opposite side walls 298 of the struck-up mask, Figure 13; the vertical side Walls of said mask continuing forward at 29 and being bent into a bow at the front to form a masking portion 292 for the front of the typewriter-frame. `Said side walls 29| and said for,-

(Ward portion 292 are preferably formed in one piece with the opposite walls 290.

',Ifhe Walls of the bowed portion of the mask may be formed with inwardly-turned flanges 293. VThe tops of the side Walls 290 of the mask are level with the tops of the side bars |80, |8| of the vcarriage-track frame, said side bars therefore serving as` finishing flanges to the tops of said side walls. The carriage-track frame may be lifted off without first removing the mask.

Each side and front of the mask have bent-in bottom ears 294, which are fastened by screws 29da to the bottom |46 of the universal base.

The mask fits around all except the projecting portions of the carriage-track frame, which rises from the mask to carry the front carriage-track. That is, front and rear shoulders., |82, |84` rise above the top level of the mask to receive the front and rear carriage-tracks.

It will be seen that the mask, with its smooth,

unbroken main surfaces, affords an ornamental covering for the main casting below the overhanging v carriage-track frame. 'I'he trunks 2|2 '(Figure 14) arel made with extra thickness, and

the mask is fitted thereto. The mask being itself universal for all machines, is formed with an extra deep cutaway 294| at these trunks. vThe `shoulders |88 of thevcarriage-track frame (Fig-4 ure 9) are made of extra width, so as to ll theseAv cutaways 294|. 1 Y f The side plates 290 of the mask are connected by a detachable front vertical masking plate 295,

having a curved cutout upper sponding to the curvature of the row of types. 5 This front plate is arched at its side portions at 291, to clear the swinging type-bars.

The top of the front plate at each side is bent back forming a tablet 298 overlying portions of the carriage-track frame.

'I'he one-piece rear wall 300 of the mask is fastened by' screws 30| to the base unit; said screws alsofastening the stiffening flanges 302 which are bent in from the rear ends of the side walls of the mask. Said flanges 302 are flush with the rear wall 300, the side edge portions of the latter being depressed at 303 to form a niche for receiving said anges. The middle of the rear wall is bowed back at 304 to form a housing or shell concealing the tabulator unit. At the tops of the front and rear portions the side walls are cut away to form contours to t the bases of the horns or trunks of the carriage-track frame, which bases are alike for all sizes of frames.

At Figure 2, there is depicted a ribbon-'shaft winding and shifting button 299 projecting from the main shaft through the side plate of the mask.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope 0 of the invention, and porti/ons of the improvements may be used without others.

' Having thus. described my invention, I "claim: 1. A knock-down typewriting machine having a framework including four parts fastenedrigidly together but readily separable -one from another and all tted for interchangeability,

namely, a base unit, a skeleton frame mounted thereon to support the typeactions,-an overhanging carriage-track frame, said three ele- .10 ments each re-enforcing the other two to form a rigid framework, and a mask below the carriage-track frame and encasing the base and the type-action mount.

. 2. A new article of manufacture constituting a base unit fitted for universal interchangeability in a typewriting machine,` and formed' of one piece of sheet-metal forming a floor with struckup high side walls provided with bent-over flanges forming seats for a carriage-track uni-t, and formed at its 'sides with cut-out projecting ears for havingU rubber feet attached thereto, and having a\rear wall bent up from said lfloor, and

a mount for a carriage-feeding unit, said mount vfixedto said floor and to said rear wall; the rear ends of said side walls being bent inwardly to form flanges fastened to said rear wall.

3. A knock-down typewriting machine having a rigid framework composed mainly of a sheetmetal main base portion and a rigid carriage- 30 track portion including a cast main frame superposed upon and rigidly attached to said base portion to form a rigid boxwork therewith, and a type-action unit having an interchangeable skeleton frame rigidly secured upon the floor of the 65 base portion and confined between the sides thereof and having opposite uprights carryingY a shifting frame with a type-bar system, and having supports for a detachable ribbon-spool-winding unit, and having side sills detachably secured 70 upon the floor of said base unit, said uprights connected by a rear wall having fulerums for the type-key levers, said base having a floor and struck-up high sides and high rearwall, said side walls extending to the fron't of the typew iter- 75 keyboard, and a front wall enclosing therixkeyedge at 296, correboard and bent up from the fioor of the base, and a struck-up thin sheet-metal mask enclosing said base portion and said type-action unit and underlying said carriage-track frame, portions of said carriage-track frame extending down within said mask for attaching the carriage-track frame rigidly to the base, said mask having bentin bottom ears that, are detachably fastened up against the bottom of the floor of the universal base.

4. A carriage-track unithaving a rectangular Vcast frame with front spreading trunks having horn-like tips upon which is secured a front carriage-track, and also having rear spreading trunks upQn which are fastened outer cleats supporting a rear carriage-track, and two cleats \secured upon the rear bar between said outer cleats, all cleats being interchangeable.

5. A new article ofmanufacture in the form of a type-action unit including a skeleton frame having a rear wall and uprights at the ends thereof and formed by portions bent forwardly from said rear wall, said frame also having side sills integral with and extending forwardly from said uprights for attachment to a base upon which said sills rest, a shifting type-bar and' sub-lever' system mounted upon said uprights, and members bent up from said sills and having. means for arresting' the up and down shifting movements of the type-bar system. I

6. A knock-down typewriting machine having Y a framework including four parts fastened rigidly together but readily separable one from another.

and all fitted for interchangeability, namely, a ba'se unit, a skeletonframe mounted thereon to support the type-actions, an overhanging carriage-track frame', said three elements each reenforcing the other tw to form a rigid framework, `a mask below the carriage-track frame and encasing the base and the type-action unit, and a system of type-bar actions, including controlling keys, mounted upon said skeleton frame to form therewith an interchangeable unit, means being also included in said type-action unit for shifting the type-bars up and down, said base changeable for all varieties of the'specied typebar units. j 'l `7. A new article of manufacturein the form of a type-action unit, fitted for interchangeabilf ity, said unit including a skeleton frame for fastening to a re-enforcing base having opposite sides, a rear wall, and side sills allstruck up from sheet-metal, a transverse key-lever fulcrum-bar secured to said rear wall, key levers extending,

forwardly from said fulcrum-bar, 'a transverse front guide-comb for said key-levers, a system of rearwardly striking type-bars, an upstanding segment whereon said type-bars are radially mounted,'a `transverse shift-frame whereon said segment is secured, rock-arms mounted upon said rear wall for'guiding up and down said'shiftframe, said segment and said type-bars, sub-V levers to which said key-levers are individually l portions of said arms and said mask being each universal and inter- ,45 

